Halifax plans urgent care center in Deltona

Published: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 7:07 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 8:05 p.m.

Halifax Health Medical Center is planning its first clinic in West Volusia, where its chief rival operates two hospitals.

The Halifax Health board and the Deltona City Commission are both scheduled to vote Monday on an interlocal agreement calling for more collaboration, starting with an urgent-care/walk-in clinic at 2090 Saxon Blvd., near Interstate 4.

That document, made public Wednesday on the commission agenda, does not call for a new hospital or promise hundreds of jobs, but is rather a joint effort to "work together to provide health-care services within the city's boundaries" to address needs. "Such services may include, but shall not be limited to primary care and specialty physician services," the proposed agreement states.

Ann Martorano, Halifax Health's chief marketing/human resources director, said the proposed clinic on Saxon would offer primary care and treatment for minor emergencies, illnesses or injuries. The hospital is planning only to make interior renovations to an existing 5,000-square-foot building that previously housed a retail video store near the corner of Saxon and West Finland Drive.

"Specifics regarding exact services, number of employees, etc., have not been finalized at this time," Martorano said in an emailed response to questions.

Mayor John Masiarczyk said Deltona has long wanted a greater presence from Daytona Beach-based Halifax Health, and described the move as "a first" for West Volusia.

"It's just bringing more services into Deltona, which we support," he said. "Halifax is well-known and respected in Volusia County."

Martorano said Halifax has previously had a presence in Deltona through the services it provides.

"For years, Halifax Health has served the Deltona market with services and programs not offered anywhere else in Volusia County, including trauma services, adult psychiatric services, child and adolescent pediatric services and Hospice care," she wrote.

She described Deltona — Volusia County's most populous city — as a city underserved by health care providers.

"For a community the size of Deltona, there are currently very few health-care access points that are convenient and close to home for Deltona residents," she said.

But officials at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, located less than a mile from Halifax's proposed new care center on the Orange City side of I-4, paint a different picture.

"Florida Hospital Fish Memorial is Deltona's hospital and we are proud to serve that community," said Lindsay Rew, a spokeswoman for Florida Hospital. "Deltona covers a sprawling geographic area and we are working actively to place health care services throughout the community. In fact, we have recently opened four physician offices in Deltona and have plans for a large outpatient complex in East Deltona in the future."

Martorano downplayed the competitive implications of the move into West Volusia, where Florida Hospital also operates a hospital in DeLand and other clinics and offices.

"Expansion into other markets has nothing to do with competition for patients with Florida Hospital. It has everything to do with providing access to services that meet the geographic, economic and population-related needs of these respective communities."

Doug Horn, a Deltona grandfather who had a kidney transplant at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach on Dec. 11, said he is pleased the county's only public hospital will be expanding its presence into Deltona.

The convenience of health care services has long been an issue for families in Deltona, a city comprised largely of commuters. Horn described a scenario a few years back when one of his daughters was involved in high school athletics and kept getting injured.

"This was when I was working in Orlando. I would have to drive home, then take her all the way across the county," Horn said. "(Having a local Halifax facility) would be a great benefit to me and the people in Deltona."

<p>Halifax Health Medical Center is planning its first clinic in West Volusia, where its chief rival operates two hospitals.</p><p>The Halifax Health board and the Deltona City Commission are both scheduled to vote Monday on an interlocal agreement calling for more collaboration, starting with an urgent-care/walk-in clinic at 2090 Saxon Blvd., near Interstate 4. </p><p>That document, made public Wednesday on the commission agenda, does not call for a new hospital or promise hundreds of jobs, but is rather a joint effort to "work together to provide health-care services within the city's boundaries" to address needs. "Such services may include, but shall not be limited to primary care and specialty physician services," the proposed agreement states. </p><p>Ann Martorano, Halifax Health's chief marketing/human resources director, said the proposed clinic on Saxon would offer primary care and treatment for minor emergencies, illnesses or injuries. The hospital is planning only to make interior renovations to an existing 5,000-square-foot building that previously housed a retail video store near the corner of Saxon and West Finland Drive. </p><p>"Specifics regarding exact services, number of employees, etc., have not been finalized at this time," Martorano said in an emailed response to questions. </p><p>Mayor John Masiarczyk said Deltona has long wanted a greater presence from Daytona Beach-based Halifax Health, and described the move as "a first" for West Volusia. </p><p>"It's just bringing more services into Deltona, which we support," he said. "Halifax is well-known and respected in Volusia County." </p><p>Martorano said Halifax has previously had a presence in Deltona through the services it provides. </p><p>"For years, Halifax Health has served the Deltona market with services and programs not offered anywhere else in Volusia County, including trauma services, adult psychiatric services, child and adolescent pediatric services and Hospice care," she wrote. </p><p>She described Deltona &mdash; Volusia County's most populous city &mdash; as a city underserved by health care providers. </p><p>"For a community the size of Deltona, there are currently very few health-care access points that are convenient and close to home for Deltona residents," she said. </p><p>But officials at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, located less than a mile from Halifax's proposed new care center on the Orange City side of I-4, paint a different picture. </p><p>"Florida Hospital Fish Memorial is Deltona's hospital and we are proud to serve that community," said Lindsay Rew, a spokeswoman for Florida Hospital. "Deltona covers a sprawling geographic area and we are working actively to place health care services throughout the community. In fact, we have recently opened four physician offices in Deltona and have plans for a large outpatient complex in East Deltona in the future." </p><p>Martorano downplayed the competitive implications of the move into West Volusia, where Florida Hospital also operates a hospital in DeLand and other clinics and offices. </p><p>"Expansion into other markets has nothing to do with competition for patients with Florida Hospital. It has everything to do with providing access to services that meet the geographic, economic and population-related needs of these respective communities." </p><p>Doug Horn, a Deltona grandfather who had a kidney transplant at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach on Dec. 11, said he is pleased the county's only public hospital will be expanding its presence into Deltona. </p><p>The convenience of health care services has long been an issue for families in Deltona, a city comprised largely of commuters. Horn described a scenario a few years back when one of his daughters was involved in high school athletics and kept getting injured. </p><p>"This was when I was working in Orlando. I would have to drive home, then take her all the way across the county," Horn said. "(Having a local Halifax facility) would be a great benefit to me and the people in Deltona."</p>